DAY OF RECKONING

CHAPTER 17

Ben had been tracing and retracing the steps as to how the bottle of iron pills had been switched with a bottle of penicillin. After the head pharmacist had done a complete inventory he had discovered that there was in fact a bottle of penicillin capsules missing as well as the janitor having found a large amount of various pills in a nearby trashcan. After testing a handful of the pills it was determined that they were indeed iron pills.

Knowing that somehow the responsible party had to have had access to Dara's medical file, Ben paid a visit to Wendy Austin in filing.

Wendy was going over a stack of records when she saw Ben come thru the door, smiling she asked cheerfully, "Hi deputy Healy, how are you doing?"

Returning the smile he replied, "Fine Wendy and how about you?"

Shrugging she stated, "Can't complain, something that I can do for you?"

Nodding Ben explained, "You heard about what happened to Dara Buck, didn't you?"

Nodding in sympathy she stated, "Sheriff Buck's wife? Yeah I heard, is she any better?"

Ben searched the girl's face carefully, he had known Wendy since she was a little girl, but he knew that she had a weakness for men, which made her a perfect target for somebody like Garrett Darvin. Coming to his point he stated, "Yeah she's awake now. They're supposed to have the tube taken from her throat today, but anyhow, I need to know who could have access to her medical files."

Staring at Ben in puzzlement she asked, "I don't get it, what has that got to do with what happened to Mrs. Buck?"

Ben, realizing that the girl had no idea of the events, explained, "She went into anaphylactic shock, someone switched her iron pills, which she gets filled at the pharmacy here, with penicillin. She's highly allergic to it, whoever did it knew it could possibly kill her and the only way that's possible is through her medical file."

Considering his statement she shook her head, "Well, the doctors of course have access and administration as well, and me of course, nurses but that's about it."

Looking at her suspiciously he asked, "Any possibility that someone could have come in here and seen those files, you know, somebody just visiting?"

Shaking her head she denied her gut feeling as she stated, "Not that I can think of, but if I think of anything I'll let you know."

Sighing in frustration at the dead end he thanked her and left.

As soon as he was out of sight Wendy went to the patient files and pulled Dara Buck's chart. Looking at it she saw what Ben had explained. There in black and white under allergies was written: PENICILLIN, (HIGHLY DANGEROUS, POSSIBLY LETHAL). Closing the folder she heard a noise behind her, turning she saw Garrett smiling at her.

"What the matter honey?"

Turning an accusing glare at him she held up the file and stated without preamble, "You did it, didn't you? The other night when you had me unlock the door to the pharmacy and supposedly got some aspirin while I was called away, you switched Dara Buck's prescription with penicillin. You looked at her file and saw that it could kill her I know you did it. Why do you want her dead? She's never harmed anyone."

Garrett shrugged as he stated without reservation, "She's standing between me and what belongs to me. And no, I didn't want her dead; I just wanted her incapacitated for a while. She keeps my brother grounded and that's not what I need to accomplish my goal."

Staring at him in disbelief she asked, "Your brother, you mean sheriff Buck?"

Nodding he smiled as he exclaimed, "The one and only."

Wendy stared at him in horror as she shook her head, "I wont be a party to this, you used me to get in these files and then to switch those pills. I wont go along with it." With that she went to walk past him to go to the phone.

Garrett had realized that she would figure it all out sooner or later, but he still needed time to accomplish his goal. With that in mind he carefully uncapped the hypodermic needle in his coat pocket, he had prepared it earlier, having secured its contents the night before. Walking to Wendy he spoke in his most charming voice a she cajoled, "Come on Wendy, put the phone down. I used you yes, but I really do care for you."

Holding the phone in indecision she looked at him skeptically, "What you've done, it's wrong Garrett."

Seeing that he was gaining the advantage he pressed her further, nodding his agreement with her statement, "I now honey and I'll go along with whatever you decide, but can we at least talk about it first?"

Sighing in sadness she nodded as she replaced the receiver and looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

Holding his arms open for her to walk into them he enfolded her in his embrace as he soothed, "It's all right, its all going to be just fine." With that he reached in his pocket and withdrew the hypodermic needle, holding her tighter he quickly jabbed it in her arm and depressed the plunger, injecting her with the contents.

Pulling back she looked at him in horror as she began experiencing a feeling like floating. In an unsteady voice she asked, "What was that?"

Smiling he took her arm and led her to a chair, watching as he face began taking on a look of being in another world. "Just a little thank you for your help Wendy. I thought that you might like a little boost, I've always heard that heroin has on hell of a kick to it, don't you think."

Wendy stared at him as though she had no idea that she was in the world. Speaking in a voice that reminded him of a little girl and wrapping her arms around his neck she stated, "You know something? I know that I should be mad at you for something, but I cant remember what now, oh well I guess that it wasn't important, was it?"

Shaking his head he smiled at her maliciously as he offered, "No darlin, I guess that it wasn't."

Glancing around her she pouted as she complained, "this place is depressing, do I have to stay here? I want to do something fun."

Looking at her questioningly he asked her, "Where do you want to go Wendy? Anything that you want to do we'll do."

Grinning she stood up and spun around, and then falling in his arms holding her own wide she stated, "I want to fly?"

Smiling he offered, "Really, would you like something to help you take off?"

Nodding her head vigorously she asked brightly, "Yes, but will it hurt?"

Shaking his head as he pulled a second needle from his pocket he instructed her, "No, it'll just sting a little but you'll feel incredible and afterwards we can go flying. So be a good girl and roll up your sleeve for me."

Sitting back down she eagerly rolled up her sleeve and held her arm out to him.

Taking her arm he injected her once more, and then recapping and placing the needle back in his pocket he waited a minute for it to take effect. When she began giggling uncontrollably he knelt down and smiled as he asked, "Ready to fly now?"

Nodding her head eagerly she allowed him to lead her to the doorway that lead to the stairs, which lead to the roof.



As promised Matt had returned early to remove the tube from Dara's throat. Having anesthetized her to be able to suture the opening, everyone waited on pins and needles for her to come out from under the anesthesia.

When Dara awoke it was to find not only Lucas by her side, but Caleb as well as Trisha and Ben all waiting with Matt to see if she would be able to speak again.

Reaching to her throat Matt nodded as he smiled brightly, "We removed it with no problems and it only required a max of two sutures, so if you do have a scar it will only be a hairline one if that. So now for the big test, I know that it will probably be slightly painful for you but lets see if you can speak. Say something for us."

Looking to her husband as she grabbed his hand in uncertainty she felt an overwhelming fright.

Lucas studied his wife's face and knew that she was scared that she would indeed not be able to speak. Gripping her hand fiercely he stated, "Darlin, even if you aren't able to talk it's not going to change anything do you understand me? The kids and I will still love you and that's for always so just relax and give it a try."

Blinking back the tears in her eyes she cleared her throat. Although said very softly it was still distinctly heard as she vowed to her husband, "I love you too."

Lucas grabbed her to him as he held her he stated fiercely, "I don't think that I've ever heard anything more beautiful."

Caleb sighed in deep relief as Trisha grasped his hand and smiled up, relieved that Dara would pull through, while Ben slapped Matt on the back, both grinning at the triumph.

When Lucas released her she looked at Matt imploringly, catching her glance he asked, "Is there something that you want?"

Nodding her head she asked softly, due to the scratchy pain in her throat, "Outside."

Matt glanced out the window and nodded as he instructed, "Okay, you've earned it, but only for a while okay?"

Nodding she smiled appreciatively at him. Ben, Caleb and Trisha all excused themselves to attend to various errands, while Lucas go her robe and held it open for her to put it on.

Declining the use of a wheelchair, wanting to exercise her legs since she was still wobbly she had to lean against Lucas for support as he lead her out to the garden area. Enjoying the breeze and sunshine she nodded her agreement when Lucas asked if she would be all right for him to go and get them something cool to drink.

After he had left for the cafeteria, Dara noticed that everyone outside was pointing towards the roof and exclaiming. Curious, she glanced up in time to see what appeared to be a young woman dancing around the edge before suddenly performing a swan dive right off the edge. Dara watched in horror as the girl hit the ground and as the blood began pouring from the opening caused by the impact.

Looking up she caught sight of someone wearing a black cowboy hat and black coat. Dara knew that Garrett realized that she recognized him; even at this distance the hate in his eyes was hard to miss. Looking back to the unfortunate girl, she stood there in utter shock unable to comprehend what she had witnessed.

Lucas, having heard the commotion came running out and seeing the look of horror on his wife's face rushed over and pulled her to him burying her face against his chest, trying to shield her from the grizzly sight. With all the excitement from the earlier procedure as well as her illness and the shock of what she had just witnessed, Lucas wasn't surprised when he felt her going limp in his arms.

He was about to take her back inside when Ben came running out having been in another part of the hospital checking into leads on Dara's case. Motioning towards the scene he informed Lucas, "I've radioed it in Lucas, but something's not right here. That was Wendy Austin, I talked to her just a couple of hours ago and she was perfectly fine. We found some hypodermic needles on the roof and we're checking them but I'm telling you I knew that girl and she wasn't into drugs. I would be that this has something to do with what happened to Dara somehow."

Lucas glared at the man as he hissed at him, "You know damned good and well whose responsible for every bit of this Benji, and one way or the other I'm going to get rid of that bastard for once and for all." With that he swung his wife's slight frame up in his arms as he added, "now, if you'll excuse me. Tend to this and do the report, I'll sign it, but right now my wife has top priority." With that he stalked back into the hospital.



Matt had agreed to let Dara go home earlier then he really wanted her to. But after Wendy Austin's apparent suicide he knew that she had no desire to be anywhere near the hospital. As expected the needles found on the roof did indeed contain heroine, supposedly explaining the girl's appearance on the rooftop.

Lucas, however, wasn't in the mood to call it a suicide; he knew without a doubt that his half-brother was responsible, especially after Dara's revelation of seeing him on the roof.



Dara had been home for about two weeks when Caleb had asked for permission to go with Trisha's family on a camping trip.

Lucas at first refused, due to his reluctance to leave his wife unprotected, but Dara had argued that since Caleb had been thru as much as they had that he had earned and deserved a break, as well as arguing that her throat was still slightly sore and making her argue only aggravated it.

Lucas shook his head while smiling at her logic as he gave in and consented.

Loris and Matt had offered to take Ria off their hands for a day or so, seeing as they felt that she needed a break and since mama Lucy was going away for a two day trip to visit an old friend of hers in Charleston.

Dara had decided after Loris had left with Ria that she felt like a long bath and getting to bed early. Locking the doors she hurried upstairs and filled her tub. After bathing and washing her hair she put on a loose flowing gown and got into bed to rest.

She must have been asleep for a couple of hours when she woke to find her husband's mouth on her neck and shoulder. Smiling, she turned towards him invitingly as she wrapped her arms around his neck.



Lucas walked in the front door cautiously as he realized all the lights in the house were off. Then reconsidering, shrugged it off, remembering his earlier phone conversation with his wife, who had stated that she might go to bed early since she was extremely tired.

Heading up the stairs he reached their bedroom and flipped on the bedside lamp and stared in dawning horror and rage at the sight before him. Dara was wrapped in the arms of another man, but when the man turned, he looked exactly like Lucas.

Dara opened her eyes and looked at the doorway then back to the man kneeling over her in confusion, then to her horror the face over her changed to reveal Garrett Darvin. Fear took place of confusion as she began pushing at him and screaming.

Lucas grabbed him by his coat and flung him backwards away from Dara, who sprang from the bed into Lucas' arms as he pulled her behind him. Looking at the other man he fumed, "This time I am going to kill you."

Garrett got up and smirked, "You know she knew who I was big brother."

Dara shook her head in furious denial as she stated emphatically, "Lucas I swear I didn't, I thought it was you."

Lucas glanced over his shoulder as he replied, "I know you did honey, it's all right its not your fault."

Garrett shook his head as he sneered, "She knew it was me, she's just a little slut."

Fury shot thru Lucas at the man's insult, crossing the space he grabbed him by the throat and smashed his fist into his face, knocking him back to the floor, then pulling him up again he knocked him flat, back into the hallway past Dara.

Dara took in the look on the other man's battered face in suspicion, seeing a smug smile come over his face as Lucas grabbed him by the throat once more and began closing his grip around it. Dara's eyes widened in realization that this was the other man's intention, although she couldn't quite understand the reasoning, running into the hallway she was about to attempt to stop her husband when she saw Garrett focusing the last amount of energy he possessed on her and felt herself thrown backwards into the wall, dazing her for a second.

Shaking her head to try and orient herself she realized Lucas had stopped throttling Garrett. Releasing the other man he came over and extended his hand to help her up from the floor where she had slid when she had hit the wall. Taking his hand she pulled herself up, thankful that her husband was still alive. Looking at the other man's body she buried her face against her husband's chest, seeking comfort. Taking her in his arms he bent down and kissed her deeply.

Dara looked up in dawning horror and fear as he released her and stated in certainty, "Dear God, you're not Lucas!"

Casting the most evil smile imaginable he nodded as he bragged, "You're absolutely right, I'm not. Although if it will comfort you any he's still here, I just have the control now. And as much as I would love to keep you around, if for nothing else sport, I'm afraid that would be an impossibility."

Dara looked at him trying to consider her options and buy herself some time, "You cant just kill me, no one would even begin to believe that Lucas would do anything to hurt me, everyone knows how much he loves me and the kids."

Nodding in agreement he stated, "I'm well aware of that, however Garrett Darvin isn't as infatuated with you and everyone does know how vicious he has been towards you, so no one will question that he broke in and attempted to rape you, and then murdered you. And being the dutiful loving husband I tried to stop him, unfortunately not in time. And no one will question his death in exchange for yours."

Dar had been trying to inch her way away from him when he snaked his hands out and placed them around her small neck. Dara felt his large hands squeezing, effectively cutting off her air supply, glancing into his face she saw a trace of something and realized that her husband was indeed still inside the shell, attempting to battle for control once more. Grabbing at the hands around her throat she succeeded in loosening them enough to allow her to speak. "Lucas! I know you are still in there don't let him do this, PLEASE!"

Dara was about to black out from lack of oxygen when she felt the hands loosen considerably, and then let go altogether as he fell to the floor. Rubbing her now bruised throat she glanced past to Garrett's body and saw movement in it, realizing that he had returned to his own body she knelt down to help her husband.

Lucas looked at her, trying to regain his own strength, "Dara, run, get out of here do you hear me, GO!"

She was about to refuse when he reached up and pushed her towards the staircase, yelling, "I SAID RUN DAMNED!"

She was bout to flee when Garrett recovered enough to reach out and grab a handful of her long flowing gown, jerking it backwards, not only ripping it up the seam, exposing her leg up to her upper thigh, but tripping her so that she landed on her rear, just inside the bedroom door. Pulling back she kicked him with all her strength, forcing him to release his grip on the handful of silk he had been clinging to. Quickly rolling to her knees she got up and ran for the closet.

Garrett having gained his feet before Lucas, walked over and jerked the older man up by his shirt, and then threw him against the wall table just under the huge stained glass window at the end of the hallway, wrapping his hands against the other man's throat he sneered, "let's see how you like it big brother." Closing his hands around Lucas' throat he began squeezing while Lucas struggled to release his hold. Garrett was surprised to say the least when he felt the painful crash of a vase across the back of his skull. Releasing Lucas, who sank to his knees grasping air, he turned in fury to find Dara standing there holding a gun aimed straight at him. Surprise replaced fury as he made one last attempt to save himself by focusing his energy on throwing her backwards to the railing.

Dara was caught off guard by the force but managed to squeeze the trigger three times, knocking a very shocked Garrett back thru the huge window and onto the ground below. But the force of his fury had been enough to knock her against the railing, which knocked the gun from her as well as knocking her off balance sending her over the railing. Reaching out in desperation she managed to grasp the rail to avoid crashing to the marble floor below.

Lucas watched in horror as she fell backwards over the railing, screaming at the top of his lungs, "DARA!" He ran to the railing to grasp her hands, which were losing they're grip on the railing. Finding strength he didn't realize he had left he quickly pulled her back over the railing and to safety. Kneeling on the floor where she had sank to collect herself, he asked, "Are you all right?"

Dara looked at him skeptically as she asked, "That depends on who you are."

Placing his hands on either side of her face he descended to take full possession of her mouth. Raising his head he asked, "Does that answer your question?"

Dara sighed in relief as she nodded and then glancing towards the now shattered window she asked, "Is he really dead?"

Lucas got up and walked over to look out at the ground below. Seeing Garrett's body lying with his head smashed on one of the cement benches below while the rest was impaled on the spiked iron fence, he turned back and answered, "I would definitely say that he is."

Dara had risen to walk to the window, but Lucas placed his hands on her shoulders gently and shook his head, "No, you don't need to see it, just take my word he is defiantly in no shape to bother us again."

Dara nodded her acceptance as she buried her face against his chest and began crying, releasing all the tensions and fright of the events of the day.

Ben came running thru the front door and up the stairs to take in the scenes before him. Glancing at Dara and then to Lucas he informed them, "We got the call, somebody heard shots."

Lucas nodded as he motioned to the broken window, Ben, following his lead walked over and glanced at the grizzly scene below shaking his head. Looking at Lucas he asked softly as he took in not only the torn gown Dara was wearing but also the bruises around both her and Lucas' throats, "How do I report this Lucas?"

Holding his wife tighter he instructed, "He broke in here and tried to rape Dara, when she fought back he tried to strangle her. I walked in and stopped him, we fought, he tried choking me and Dara got the gun from our closet and shot him. He fell through the window and landed below."

Ben nodded as he stated, "Okay, I'll have the body removed and whatever else should be."

Lucas nodded his thanks as he knelt down and looked at his wife's tear stained face. "Better now?"

Dara nodded and smiled sadly, "I'm just grateful that it's finally over with."

Looking at her in concern as he asked, "Are you all right, does anything hurt you?"

Dara nodded as she replied, "My back and throat but other than that I'm fine and no I don't want to go to the hospital, I just want to lie down and forget this ever happened."

Lucas nodded das he bent down and swung her up into his arms taking her back to their room to place her in their bed. Covering her over he sat with her until she had drifted off, still clinging to his hand for security and safety. After he was certain that she was asleep he went to clean the debris from the earlier battled as well as call a glazer for the window. When everything, including the removal of Garrett Darvin's body, had been accomplished he went in search of rest as well.



One week later Dara and Lucas had put everything back into order. Mama Lucy had returned from Charleston and stated that she was no longer needed so she returned to her own home.

Caleb came back from his camping trip and was relieved to find his parents fine and that the threat to their family no longer existed.

Kara and Jack brought Rinie, Riesa and Alex back much to their parents delight.

Everything was once more restored to their lives as it had been and should be.

Lucas was lying in bed waiting for his wife to join him as he contemplated the turn of events.

Dara emerged from the bathroom, smoothing lotion onto her hands and arms she smiled as she caught the look of contentment on her husband's face. Flinging herself down on the bed next to him she laid her arms across his chest as she offered, "Penny for your thoughts."

Smiling he put one arm across her back as he pushed the loose curls of her hair back from her face as he stated, "I was just thinking about just how much I love you and the kids."

Smiling she returned brightly, "Oh, my favorite subject, care to demonstrate just exactly how much you do love me?"

Grinning at her leeringly he reached over to shut the light out as he offered, "That's the best offer I've had all day. And yes, I would very much like to demonstrate how much I love I have for you." With that he took her in his arms and did indeed show her the extent of his love for her.